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Meetings of experts on automated/autonomous and connected vehicles (GRVA) are an opportunity to discuss issues related to the need of harmonizing vehicle regulations. The topics discussed during the 17th GRVA Session, which took place on September 25-29, 2023 in Geneva*, included: issues related to the proposal to implement the new UN Regulation on uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to advanced driver assistance systems.

The proposal for a new UN Regulation was developed and approved by the Task Force on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (TF on ADAS). The prepared material was submitted to the Working Group on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles (GRVA) in the form of a formal document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2023/20 – Proposal for a new UN Regulation on uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regards to Driver Control Assistance Systems.

ADAS systems are designed and installed in vehicles primarily to relieve the driver while driving. The use of such systems improves overall road safety by reducing accidents caused by human error, including:

• speeding,
• too small distance from the vehicle in front,
• distracting the driver’s attention while driving,
• incorrect assessment of the situation.

Using the option of continuous support from driving automation systems can motivate the driver to:

• maintain an appropriate distance from other road users,
• driving according to the speed limit,
• reacting preventively to potential threats,
• increasing attention to the road situation.

 

The proposed new UN Regulation sets out general requirements for the operation of ADAS systems, defined for the purposes of this Regulation as DCAS (Driver Control Assistance System), which means instrumentation and software useful to the driver in continuously controlling the longitudinal and lateral movement of the vehicle. The new UN Regulation aims to provide minimum safety requirements for all ADAS systems, especially those that cannot currently be approved.

The proposed new UN Regulation aims to establish technology-neutral, uniform and general rules for the approval of vehicles equipped with DCAS. The proposed changes are intended to enable the approval of various functions supporting driving control, filling the existing regulatory gap. The new UN Regulation will provide minimum safety requirements for each DCAS.

 

What should be included in the new UN Regulation?

• General issues related to ADAS, with particular emphasis on systems that will continuously provide support to the driver in controlling the vehicle in the longitudinal and lateral directions:
  – ensuring safety by defining minimum requirements for all ADAS systems, especially those that cannot currently be approved;
  – considering a combination of driving assistance systems to control vehicle movement in the longitudinal and lateral directions.
• Introduction of a comprehensive approach to the operation and assessment of the operation of driver support systems:
  – performance requirements applicable to any combination of vehicle lateral and longitudinal motion control systems (UN Regulation No. 79 focuses on requirements relating to the steering system and not ADAS). Great emphasis was placed on the driver’s involvement in operating the vehicle and the human-machine interface (HMI);
  – more comprehensive conformity assessment methods (concerning more than one use case) compared to the methods contained in UN Regulation No. 79;
  – the requirements for ADAS contained in the new Regulations have been adapted to the guidelines provided by the FRAV/VMAD task groups (FRAV – Functional Requirements for Automated and Autonomous Vehicles, VMAD – Validation Method for Automated Driving).
  
• The provisions of the new Regulation shall not constitute an obstacle to possible more detailed requirements for certain ADAS contained in other regulations, such as those currently included in UN Regulation No. 79.

The requirements in UN Regulation No. 79 and the draft UN Regulation applicable to lane keeping and driver-initiated lane changes will not be identical because the draft UN Regulation has been developed to cover more operational domains (more system operating scenarios) and applications to various types of systems. Furthermore, the draft new UN Regulation should provide an equivalent level of security to the provisions contained in UN Regulation No 79, although potentially achieved by other means. To achieve an equal level of safety, the provisions of the draft new UN Regulation will be aligned with the provisions of UN Regulation No. 79. Some provisions of UN Regulation No. 79 may be directly applied. Work is currently underway on the draft UN Regulations that will meet the above requirements.

It remains essential to eliminate both “double testing” of systems (under UN Regulation No. 79 and UN Regulation DCAS) and inconsistencies in technical regulations, while maintaining UN Regulation No. 79 unchanged for those entities that could only apply the Regulation. UN No. 79. According to this assumption:

• Functions approved under UN Regulation No. 79 should not have to also be approved to (or meet the technical requirements of) the new UN Regulation – DCAS;
• Functions approved under the new UN DCAS Regulation should not have to also be approved to (or meet the technical requirements of) UN Regulation No. 79;
• Contracting Parties that do not apply the new UN Regulation – DCAS should still be able to require compliance with UN Regulation No. 79.

Currently, the completion of work related to the development of the new UN Regulation is expected in January 2024. The draft of the new Regulation will be subject to discussion during the 18th Session of GRVA (January 2024), and if it is positively considered and approved by GRVA, it is expected to be approved by the WP. 29 in the fourth quarter of 2024.

 

Source:
ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2023/20 – Proposal for a new UN Regulation on uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regards to Driver Control Assistance Systems
GRVA-17-12 – Informal document – Draft UN Regulation on DCAS – Outline 
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

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* The 17^th GRVA Session was attended by a representative of the Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Competence Centre (CK:PAP) Dr. Eng. Artur Gołowicz, Head of the Vehicle Dynamic Testing Laboratory of the Vehicle Homologation and Testing Department at the Motor Transport Institute, an expert appointed by the Transportation Technical Supervision. The expert group established within GRVA falls under WP.29 – World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations.